Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2001):

Serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine involvement in the antidepressant action of hypericum perforatum.

Full Abstract

Hypericum perforatum is considered an effective alternative to the synthetic antidepressants in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression. Recently, we showed that the effects on neurotransmitter contents in different brain regions of laboratory animals are more evident after administration of hypericum extracts containing a higher concentration of flavonoids, thus suggesting that these compounds are important in the antidepressant action of hypericum perforatum. We studied the effects of Ph-50, a hypericum extract standardized to flavonoids (50%) and containing 0.3% hypericin and 4.5% hyperforin on brain serotonin content, norepinephrine and dopamine by a high-performance liquid chromatography method in discrete brain areas (cortex, diencephalon and brainstem) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Moreover, we evaluated the effects of Ph-50 alone or in association with sulpiride (a dopamine receptor antagonist), metergoline (a serotonin receptor antagonist) and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OH-DA, destroying norepinephrine-containing neurons) using a forced-swimming test in the rat. Hypericum extract (Ph-50; 250-500 mg/kg) with acute oral administration enhanced serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine content in the brain and reduced the immobility time of rats in the forced-swimming test. Sulpiride, metergoline and 6-OH-DA significantly increased the period of immobility in the forced-swimming test for the rats receiving hypericum extract (Ph-50). The results indicate that the neurotransmitters studied could be involved in the anti-immobility effects of hypericum, and suggest that its antidepressant action is probably mediated by serotonergic, noradrenergic and dopaminergic system activation.

Author information

Author/s: Calapai, G (G); Crupi, A (A); Firenzuoli, F (F); Inferrera, G (G); Squadrito, F (F); Parisi, A (A); De Sarro, G (G); Caputi, A (A);

Affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Torre Biologica Policlinico Universitario, Italy. gcalapai(-atsign-)unime.it

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Pharmacopsychiatry (Pharmacopsychiatry), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2001-Mar; vol 34 (issue 2) : pp 45-9

Dates: Created 2001/04/13; Completed 2001/08/09; Revised 2003/11/14;

PMID: 11302563, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Antidepressive Agents - pharmacology Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - pharmacology Brain Chemistry - drug effects Depression - psychology Dopamine - metabolism Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid - metabolism Hypericum Male Norepinephrine - metabolism

Norepinephrine - metabolism Oxidopamine - pharmacology Plant Extracts - pharmacology Plants, Medicinal Rats Rats, Sprague-Dawley Serotonin - metabolism Sulpiride - pharmacology Swimming - psychology Sympathectomy, Chemical

Associated Chemicals: Antidepressive Agents (0) ; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation (0) ; Plant Extracts (0) ; Oxidopamine (1199-18-4) ; Sulpiride (15676-16-1) ; Serotonin (50-67-9) ; Norepinephrine (51-41-2) ; Dopamine (51-61-6) ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (54-16-0)

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